Golf club



Dec. 4, 1934. w. c. sPlKER GOLF CLUB Fil'ed Aug. l5, 1931 IN VEN TOR.

, Will/Lain do @vllt/er y auf M7 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 4, 1934 l Application August 1s, 1931, serial No. 556,873

7 claims, (o1. 27a-'17) `This invention relates to metal golf clubs, commonly called irons, more particularly `intended forlapproachshots and other shots requiring accuracyof direction and distance. i

The objects of the invention are to provide for the requisite accuracy of direction in a club having driving power forobtaining long distance, to

secure maximum stiffness "of the blade Within the limit of weight, to enable a variety of weights to be-produced from forgings made in the same die, to balance the club head and shaft to suit different types of players, to enable the angle of the striking'face, or loft, tobe adjusted by the player as desired, and to improve the construction and appearance of clubs of theso-called long-iron type.

The invention is also applicable to the short approach shot club, or chipper, for which it is desirable to have a wide variety of striking face angles, and which must be susceptible of very accurate control.

Other aims and advantages of the invention appear in the following description of two preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side view; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are end and top views, respectively, of a metal golfclub having anadjustable head;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the same on the principal axis of thehead, the shank portion being shown in elevation; and

Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, are respectively similar views to Figs. 1 to 4, showing another form of the invention provided with a rigid head.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the club head has a shank 11 provided with a hosel for receiving.

the shaft 12, which may be of wood or hollow metal, as desired. The shank terminates in a screw threaded extremity or stud 13 making an obtuse angle with the axis of the hosel and shaft such that the axis of this stud will be parallel with the ground whenthe club is held in normal playing position.

The body or blade 14 is tubular in form, and its bore 15 is provided at its heel end with a tapped or threaded socket adapted to screw on to the stud 13 and be firmly supported thereby when secured thereto by the lock nut L16 or other suitable holding means. By slightly turning the blade more or less in one direction or the other on the stud 13 the angle of loft of the striking face of the blade may be adjusted to suit the conditions of play for each successive shot. The

heel end of the blade and the lock nut may be knurled or otherwise shaped to facilitate ready adjustment by the player. I

The body of the head 14 is of about the same width as height and is provided with a transversely rounded back surfaceV so that `the rear wall .of the hollow head is of approximately uniform thickness. Thus strength and rigidity is secured with a minimum of weight, especially of weight at theheel end of the head which would otherwise interfere with the proper distribution of weight in the head and with the balancing of theclub.` i l' In the embodiment shown in Figs. l` to '4, the outer end of the bore is closed, and the interior of the club is filled with balancing material, as for example, wood or other light weight material 1'7, 19, near the toe and heel, and lead or other heavier material 18 intermediate the ends. Thus the proper weight `and distribution of weight to provide the desired balance may be had without altering the outside dimensions and shape of the blade or changing its generallynniform appearance from end to end.

'Ihe blade 14 has a striking face 20 of substantially rectangular shape, preferably withiits top and bottom edges parallel throughout most of their length, and the top of the blade is provided with a straight groove or line 21 from end to end parallel to the edges of the striking face `andparallel to the rounded back of the blade.

Such a construction makes for. accuracy of play. Thus in looking down upon the club when held in playing position, all lines-or lengthwise elements of the blade appear parallel and it is easy to square up the club with the ball and faced in the line or direction of the shot to be played.

' In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the blade or head 25 is of the same general type as that shown in Figs. 1-4 but is made integral or vsolid with the shank 11, and the hollow bore 26 opens to the toe end of the club, and may be closed by a suitable plug 2'?. The heavy iilling 28 and lighter filling 29 may be made to provide the desired weight and balance, as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4. This vtype of club may be used with good effect as a driving iron or long iron, and shafted, weighted, and balanced accordingly.

The method of changing the loft, it will be noted, is very simple, convenient and inexpensive. The change in loft does not change the angle between the bottom edge of the striking face and the shaft, and it does not change the balance of the club, so that when a player has secured an adjustable club weighted and balanced to suit him he has a club which suits him for a considerable variety of shots.

The invention is not restricted to the exact design shown, but what is claimed is as follows:

1. A golf club of the iron type comprising a shank provided with a threaded stud at its lower end, the stud making an obtuse angle with the shaft whereby it lies approximately parallel With the ground when the club is held in normal position for addressing a ball, a substantially block type head provided with a large bore tapped at its open end and extending from the heel to near the toe so as to maintain the proper weight of the head, lling material of different weight distributed in the bore to provide proper balance for the club, and said head being secured tosaid shank by screwing the shank stud into the open end of said bore.

2. A golf club as specified in claim l and having means on the stud for securing the head on said stud in angularly adjusted position as desired.

3. A golf club as specified in claim 1 and having an adjustable stop member on the stud against which the head is rmly screwed to rigidly retain it in desired angular relation to the shank, whereby the loft of the club may be changed during the progress of a game.

4. A golf club as specified in claim 1 and having a lock nut on the stud for rigidly locking the head and shank in desired angular relation and permitting changes in the loft of the club during the progress of a game.

5. A balanced golf club of the iron type comprising a shaft and a metal block type head secured thereto at its heel, said head being of substantial width and having a sloping striking face, a rounded back and a rectangular upper surface area parallel to the ground in normal position, said head having parallel boundaries affording sighting means to the player when addressing the ball, and said head being recessed by a large bore within the rear or heel half to balance the club head and shaft and to x the total weight of the head at that desired by the individual player, whereby aiming is greatly facilitated and a club having great lateral stiffness and the desired distribution of weight is secured. 6. A golf club as specified in claim 5 having a shank provided with a threaded stud at its lower end, the stud making an obtuse angle with the shank whereby it lies approximately parallel with the ground when the club is held in normal position for addressing a ball, and having the large bore of the head extending inwardly from the heel and tapped at its open end, and said head secured to said shank by screwing the shank stud into the open end of said bore.

7. A golf club as specified in claim 5 having the large bore of the head open at the heel end and extending inwardly therefrom, and having a shank provided with means extending into said bore and cooperating therewith to rigidly secure said head to said shank.

WILLIAM C. SPIKER. 

